Voice

Lesson Information
We help our voice students achieve beautiful sound, clearly express words and melodies and develop healthy technique that will ensure many years of musical enjoyment. Students learn good posture and breathing techniques to maintain and strengthen their voices. Emphasis is on good intonation and vocal production, rhythm, diction and expression.
Students may choose to participate in Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) examinations or music festival competitions. We encourage participation in musical theatre, choirs and other ensembles and we prepare many students for auditions for school or community productions.
Our Teachers

Jessica Bianconi
Jessica Bianconi is a BMus Student at Carleton University and recent graduate of the Canterbury High School Vocal program. She has a background in classical, pop, rock and musical theatre. She is also a singer/songwriter and has grown up in the Ottawa Music Scene.
She began singing in choirs at a very young age and took part in the Ottawa Catholic Choir and Ottawa Children’s Choir. Jessica has trained classically under highly recognized university professor, from the University of Ottawa and the University of Toronto, Yoriko Tanno Kimmons. She also completed her level 8 Royal Conservatory of Music certification in 2016.
Jessica has trained with Bernard Fowler, backup vocalist for the Rolling Stones and also recorded under Rob Lamothe, from the band the River Dogs. She has been the lead vocalist in many bands and has both written lyrics and composed for them.
In her most recent solo project, Jessica has been performing around Ottawa and recording her first solo EP in studio.

Ally Downes
Ally Downes is a BMus voice student at the University of Ottawa, currently studying under Allyson McHardy. She’s been involved with music since age 4 and has continued throughout her life to expand her musical knowledge. She has her Royal Conservatory of Music certificates for Levels 9 for voice, 7 for piano, and 9 for harmony.
Until age 14, Ally had always been rather shy with showcasing her music, but after joining the vocal group at Castor Valley Elementary School, she began to be more outwardly involved with performing. Later that year, she auditioned for the vocal program at Canterbury High School, where she graduated from in 2018. There she was in various choirs, musicals, and even operas in her voice studio; she also competed in various competitions. In her gap year between high school and university, she was asked to perform at Rideau Hall by the Governor General herself, and she also substituted at Glebe Montessori School as a music teacher for the end of the year. There she gained a love for teaching, and had lots of fun exploring music with children of many ages.
Ally teaches voice and beginner piano. She is well trained in classical and musical theatre, and enjoys working in many other styles! She loves to keep a fun atmosphere while also tailoring lessons to each student’s needs, so they can learn and improve to their fullest potential.

Christine Jakel
Christine has been immersed in music for the majority of her life, earning a grade 9 piano certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music in 2011 and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Ottawa for vocal performance in 2016. In 2017, she left the classical world to pursue her own solo indie rock project. She has fourteen years of experience teaching students of all ages in piano, voice, songwriting and specializes in beginner/intermediate piano. Additionally, she has helped several piano students pass RCM exams up to grade 5 and prepared students to audition for arts high schools such as DeLaSalle (which she herself attended) and Canterbury. She believes that music should be accessible to everyone and tailors her lessons to the unique goals and level of her students in a way that helps them feel excited to learn and produces real results. She teaches in both French and English.
Eleanor Ritchie
Eleanor Ritchie is a BMus student at Carleton University, currently studying under Juliette Kirk. She started her music journey at Castor Valley Elementary where she took part in the choir and vocal ensemble. She then went on to study in the Canterbury High School voice program. She currently has her RCM level 6 in piano and 8 in voice.
Eleanor started lessons at The Manotick School of Music at age 8 for piano and voice lessons and continued up until university. Once her lessons were done she made the decision to start teaching at the music school she grew up in. Eleanor specializes in Pop, Classical, and Musical Theatre singing and beginner piano.
Many of our teachers excel in more than one instrument!
Click to see other MSM Instructors qualified to teach voice:
Interested in taking lessons?
Share some information about yourself and we will contact you to complete the registration process.